Consolidation bills for Perry, Chickasaw advance
Among the bills surviving are measures that would consolidate five school districts into two, change the qualifications to serve as a superintendent, establish a cursive reading and writing curriculum and phase out an occupational diploma for special-needs students.
Lawmakers could also consider House Bill 1046, which would allow students diagnosed with dyslexia to receive taxpayer support to cross state lines for services. The legislation is the only school choice bill still alive for the session. The measure, which had been double-referred and was already approved by the Senate Education Committee, passed out of the Senate Appropriations Tuesday.
The House advanced Senate Bill 2463, which would merge the Houston, Chickasaw County and Okolana school districts. The original Senate proposal only combined Houston and Chickasaw County, leaving out Okolana, which had fiercely protested the merger. Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, amended the legislation to add Okolona back in, citing its poor academic performance.
Clarion Ledger
2/28/17
